A Silly Post

This is as the title states, a silly post. Though still serious (and honest). Being both is apparently possible. So, I have a few things to say about yesterday and they’re all random so I’m just gonna go ahead and confuse you all.

1.My third post on Savvy Tokyo is up. You can check it out HERE. Side note: yesterday, I complained to my sister that no one even reads my work and next thing, 30+ of her friends have shared this article having asked their friends to read and share it too. So cheeky. I am so lucky to have such great people in my life. I love you big sis. Big big big shout out.

2. Yesterday I also went to Tottori. That’s the prefecture with Japan’s largest sand-dunes and also, my mother’s highlight of my parents’ Japan trip. It was awesome. I especially liked the new South American sand museum exhibition. I also went last year, it was German themed then. Each year they have a new theme and a new team of international artists. A definite must see when there. More info on the actual museum HERE.

3.Last week I bought my mama a pair of identical sandals to mine and sent them to her as a surprise. Yesterday she received them and sent me back a thank you text with a picture of her wearing them with these thick black socks. Very unfashionable. I told her to take her socks off and take a picture in them outside. She sent back a picture of her standing ON a picnic table. Before you think she’s completely insane, let me explain that this is because, back in NZ, I used to do all of my blog photography on this old abandoned picnic table in our backyard (see here here here and here). I liked the wooden background and its location always got natural sunlight. Nowadays as you may have noticed, I take all of my food pictures at the same spot. These wooden boards are actually the floorboard of my lounge, next to my  balcony’s glass door. It’s a silly spot but it has amazing light. Now, the brown boards have sorta become my style. Anyways, isn’t my mother hilarious?! I’ve included some of her other ridiculous (and sweet) messages to make you smile. Some context for the last image, during that 19 minute phone convo, I had continously whined  about being single and for so long. I love my mama.

 

 

 

Banana berry and coconut okara cake.

Cake:
3 free-range eggs
2 ripe bananas
1/4 cup melted coconut oil
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
1/2 cup ground almonds
3/4 cup okara (soy pulp or any nut pulp left over from making nut milk will also work)
1 cup wholemeal flour (use GF variety if GF)
1/2 cup unsweetened desiccated coconut
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Topping:
1/4 cup mixed frozen berries

Preheat oven to 160C

Mix all cake ingredients together then pour into a greased cake tin

Top with berries

Bake for 35-40 min or until the fork comes out clean

PS What’s that in Emma’s hand? That’s right, my cake!

Healthy okara (soy pulp) and banana muffins.

Good morning!

(less)swollen-ankle girl here. I am slowly recovering! Thank, God.

Last week I baked muffins (yes, more muffins!) using my okara and banana cake, recipe (here) except muffanised. Luckily, they turned out well and, were the perfect size to carry around (in my handbag) in case of hunger pangs and/or sugar withdrawals! If you can get your hands on some okara please try these and let me know what you think! I hear okara is also great for vegan/vegetarian burgers – next on my list of things to try.

And then I was bitten by a centipede

My ankle is the size of Russia. As in, swollen as f$%^. From a centipede bite. Yes, centipede. Thank you, inaka (countryside). To make matters worse, I happen to be staying at a nice hotel, in a busy spot in Okayama city with plenty of foodie places to explore (for a three day teacher’s conference) and, since I can’t WALK I can’t go outside. Alas, things could be worse. My hotel could be one of those 1 in a trillion hotels where there’s no room-service available.. oh wait, it is one of those… !!!

On a good note, today’s lunch at The Market, an organic bakery was Divine (with a capital D). I had a vegetarian sandwich and a soy latte. From across the street at Cotan (the organic food-store sister of Market) I purchased a RAW cacao bar, organic banana and a cold camomile tea drink which I am slowly savouring for dinner now. WHAT HOTEL DOESNT HAVE ROOM SERVICE? Good thing Cotan saved my behind. Anyways, I loved both Market and Cotan. I am so lucky that they’re only 2 min walking distance from my conference hall. In fact, I will be hopping there come lunch-break tomorrow and the next day, if I make it out alive. Please keep my foot in mind! I’m serious, my ankle’s HUGE.

Healthy okara banana cake

Okara or soy pulp is the left over stuff after pureed soybeans are filtered in the production of soy milk and/or tofu. It is generally white or yellowish in colour and is frequently used in Chinese, Korean and Japanese cooking. The supermarket in my village gives it away for free! Woo lucky me! Tonight, I made a super healthy banana loaf with it. Here’s the recipe:

2 free range eggs
2 ripe bananas
1/4 cup of melted coconut oil
1/4 cup of pure maple syrup
1 cup of okara
2 cups of flour (I used wholemeal but any GF alternative like rice flour will work)
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
pinch of salt
1/4 cup of crushed walnuts

Preheat oven to 180

Mix all ingredients together

Pour into a greased loaf tin and bake for about 30-40 min or until the fork comes out clean

Das it.